Packaging cigarettes and the like



Nov. 18, 1941. J. A. NEUMAIR 2,262,774

PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed July 7, 19:57 a Sheets-Sheiet 1 FIG. I F|G.2 F163 FIG.4

1 INVENTOR 5 I. gweZ/fi fimz naz'r ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1941.

J. A. NEUMAIR PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE. LIKE 1 Filed July 7, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 c/bye A/l/eu if BY g i ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1941. J A;NEUMAIR 2,262,774,

- PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed July 7, 1937 6 Sheets$heet 3 FIG. I5 F F'|(3.| 6 FIGJ7.

FIG. IS

FIG. 20

INVENTOR (5 06? 2 ll BY I I /l/ ,1

/ TTORNEY y y" INVENTOR Y fi BY Nov. 18, 1941. A, EW 2,262,774

PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed July '7, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 26 FIG. 25

F|G.29 FIGBI F |G.32- y TTORNEY Nov. 18, 1941. 'J. A. NEUMAIR 2,262,774

7 PACKAGING GIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed July '7, 1937 e Sheets-Sheet 5 .33 F'|G.34 FIG.35

' v v y" Y I A X Y" Y I ATTORNEY Ir I Nov. 18, 1941. J. A. NEUMAIR 2,262,774

PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE. LIKE:

Filed July 7, 1937 s Shets-Sheet e INVENTOR {are /2 :zz'r

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 19 41 PACKAGING CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Joseph A. Neumair, Hollis; N. Y., asslgnor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 7, 1937, Serial No. 152,300

2 Claims.

' This invention relates to wrapping, more particularly to the packaging of cigarettes, cigar packages and the like. The main object of the invention is to provide a moistureproof closure of the ends of a wrapper formed of regenerated cellulose or heat-scalable foil. To this end, in the various embodiments of the invention selected for illustration herein, end flaps of the wrapper may lie folded into abutting relation and bonded together by fusionv ofsthermoplastic adhesive previously coated on their contiguous faces. Moreover the abutting flaps may be crimped transversely or longitudinally, and the same may be folded inwardly or interlocked to form a lock seam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hermetically sealed foil wrapper having indicia printed on one of its side faces. With this end in view, a heat-sealable foil wrapper having suitable indicia printed thereon is draped about the package and the thermoplastic coating along the contiguous faces of the longitudinal seam so formed is fused to bond the same, and certain end flaps may be folded inwardly into abutting relation, while the intermediate flaps are spread apart, and heat-sealed to form an upstanding seam which may be folded down on the end of the package. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the

invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appendedr I In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Figs. 1 to 4 are. plan views illustrating the successive steps in producing a lock seam fold in the outer wrapper along oneside-faceof the package;

Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views respectively, showing the means. for spreading and closing the top flap of the wrapper;

Fig. '7 is a front view illustrating the creasing of the top and bottom flaps;

Figs. 8 and 9 are' front views showing the means. of producing a lock seam fold to the top of the Wrapper;

. Fig. 10 is a'plan view of Figs. 9, and

Fig. 11 shows the upper portion'of the completed package;'

Figs. 12 to'14 inclusive, are plan views illustrating the successive stages in producing a lock seam fold in the outer wrapper on the rear face of the package;

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the upper flaps of the wrapper spread and closed;

Fig. 16 is a side view of Fig. 15;

Figs, 1'7 and 18 show the steps of folding the top fl p;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of Fig. 18, and

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the completed package;

Fig. 21 is a partial showing of the die cut wrapper blank;

Figs. 22 to 25 illustrate the successive of folding the wrapper; and

Fig. 26 isa plan view of the completed pack- 88;

Figs. 27to 31 disclose the stages of folding the wrapper; and

Fig. 32 is a plan view Figs. 33 to 36 show various stages of folding the wrapper; and

Fig. 37 is a plan view of the finished pack- Fig. 38 is a partial showing of thedie cut wrapper blank;

Figs. 39 to 44 illustrate the successive steps of folding the wrapperrand' Fig. 45 is a plan view of the completed package;

Figs. 46 and 47 illustrate the manner of making the insert which constitutes the bottomend 'of the package;

Figs. 48 to 50 show the stages of folding the wrapper about the bottom insert;

extending ends folded to produce a flat bottom; Figs. 53 to 55 show the successive stages of folding the wrapper; and

Fig. 56 is a view of the finished package.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 11 disclose a method of applying a transparent envelop or wrapper to a package in a manner to obtain hermetic or moistureproof closure of said package. The wrapping material C, which may be regenerated cellulose such as Cellophane or any suitable transparent material, is draped around three sides of package P as seen in Fig. 1. A folder plate III then moves towards the projecting side flap C' and creases the same over the corner of the package (Fig. 2) while a folding finger II attached to oscillating arm I! swings and presses the projecting side flap C" stages of the finished package;

against the flap of web C, eventually lodging both flaps in a folder slot l3 (Fig. 3) extending across the free end of folder plate It). The flaps are thus creased and doubled back on each other. Arm I! then moves in the opposite direction to withdraw folder II from the folder slot, folder l being then turned 180 to interlock the folded flaps C and C" (Fig. 4) and thereby produce a lock seam S. Package P is now moved in the direction of the arrow and in so doing the lock seam S is withdrawn from folder slot IS. The folder l0 having performed its duty then returns to its starting position in readiness for the next package. The projecting end flaps of the package arenext folded to complete the closure of the same. As seen in. Fig. 5 only the top end of the package is illustrated but it should be understood that the bottom end is folded in the same manner about to be described. The projectingend F of the wrapper indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 5) is spread transversely of the broad faces of the package by arms I which enter the open wrapper end and engage the broad flaps thereof adjacent their bases, and at the same time a pair of tuckers l5 move inwardly. from the narrow sidesof the package whereby the edges of the wrapper are brought into abutting relation to form a seam F. Arms II and folders l5 thenreturn to their starting position, whereupon sets of creaser members I6 I and lBd engage and crease the seams F on the top and bottom ends of the package (Fig. 7). In this manner the seams F are pinched together to form tails which tend to remain closed. Upon retraction of members It and lfia, sets of folders I! and I! (Fig. 8) move inward to engage thetails F, one folder I8 of each set inserting the tail F into the folder slot of the respective member 11. Member I8 is then withdrawn and'folder .l'l then turned 180 to complete the lock seam S as shown in Fig.9. Upon movement of the package P in the direction of the arrow, the interlocked seam is withdrawn from the folding slot, .the folder I! then returning to its previous'position. A stripe of adhesive A applied to each of the triangular flaps T and T produced during the formation of the seams F (Fig. 10) serves to'secure the flaps to the underlying portions of the wrapperwhen said flapsare folded inwardly to complete the package as shown in Fig. 11. The projecting tab T" of flap T permits opening .of the package with ease and convenience.

If desired, the wrapper material may be printed, heat-scalable foil having a thermoplastic coating on portions or the entirety of its inner faces. In this case the transparent wrapper may be dispensed with and the wrapper will be folded around a hollow mandrel in the same manner as previously described. Following the completion of the lock seam S along one side face of the mandrel the bottom flaps only of the package are spread transversely of the broad sides of the package by arms ll (Fig. 5') at the same time the folders I! tuck the wrapper inwardly over (not shown) engages the end of the wrapper so closed to activate the stripe of adhesive A and fuse together the contiguous surfaces between the various overlapping folds thereof. The wrapper, which is still open at one end, is removed from the mandrel when its contents, for example cigarettes, are inserted from the inner end of the mandrel and ejected through the other end. The open end of the wrapper isthen closed and sealed in the same manner as above described, or its flaps may be merely folded in the conventional manner.

A package wrapped according to a modified principle is disclosed in Figs. 12 to 20 inclusive, whereby the wrapper is draped around three sides of the package P as seen in Fig.'12. The projecting wrapper margins C and C are folded and tucked by folders of the type described and shown in connection with the previous package during the first step in the formation of the lock seam of the wrapper along the rear face of the package as seen in Fig. 13. The slotted folder'then turns 180 and interlocks the folds C and C" to complete the lock seam S at the rear of the package shown in Fig. 14. The projecting top and bottom flaps of the wrapper C are spread transversely of the narrow sides of the package, and at the same time the wrapper is folded inwardly from the broad sides over the top and bottom ends of the package. The seams F, are

thereby'formed and closed as shown in Fig. 15

at the top end of the package. The various stages in the formation of the top and bottom seams or tails F are illustrated in Figs. 16, 17 and 18. As shown, the small triangular flaps T and T (Fig. 19) receive stripes of adhesive A serving to secure said flaps to the underlying portions of the wrapper when they are folded to complete the package as shown in Fig. 20.

A printed, heat-scalable foil wrapper, which may have a thermoplastic coating on portions or the entirety of its inner face, may be used, and the transparent wrapper Just described may be dispensed with, in which case the foil wrapper will be draped around a hollow mandrel; Upon completion of the lock seam S, the flaps on the narrow sides of the bottom end only will be spread and the flaps on its broad sides will be simultaneously folded inwardly and a suitable heated'member will contact and heat-seal the seam- F so formed. When the seam F has been formed and closed and the triangular flaps T and T are folded inwardly, a heated member will seal the bottom end of the wrapper by fusing together the foil between the overlapped folds thereof. The wrapper, now open at one end, is removed from the mandrel when the contents,

' for example cigarettes, are inserted through the the outer end of the mandrel, thereby forming to produce the lock seam S; The triangular flaps T and T are 'next folded inwardly one inner end of the mandrel. The open end of the wrapper is then closed and sealed in the same manner as just described. Figs. 21 to 26 disclose various steps in the formation of still another type of package. One end of the wrapper blank B, which may be formed of foil having a thermoplastic coating on portions or the entirety of its inner face is cut away as illustrated in Fig. 21 to facilitate folding of the wrapper and to also reduce unnecessary bulkiness of the over the other, and a suitable heated member wrapper. It will be understood that the other end of the blank may be identically cut away to assure easy folding. The blank B is folded around the arbor and the outer edge of the longitudinal seam X is engaged by a heated member to cause it to adhere ,to the under lap of the wrapper. The projecting tongues Y are next 22), resulting in the'displacement of the ears from a vertical to a horizontal plane wherein their tips Y" are brought intovertical abutting relation (Fig. 23). The upright seam or tail Y" so formed is engaged by a heated member to fuse together the thermoplasticcoating on the inner faces of the tips Y and thereby seal the same.

The upstanding tail Y" (Fig. 24) is then folded down as indicated by the dot and dash lines. 1o

The projecting fiaps T and T (Figs. 24 and 25) are then folded inward, completing the folding of one end of the wrapper which is then sealed by engagement of a heated member therewith to fuse the foil between the flaps T and T and the underlying portions of the wrapper. The package is then stripped from the mandrel when the contents are inserted through the inner end of the latter, whereupon the open end of said package is folded and sealed in the same manner as above described,'or in the conventional manner if desired.

Another modified form of package is disclosed in Figs. 27 to 32, in which the foil wrapper F-is draped around the mandrel (Fig, 27) and its longitudinal seam X is heat-sealed. .The. flaps Y projecting from the narrow side faces of mandrel are tucked inward forming V'-shaped folds (Figs. 28 and 29) following which the flaps Y' of the broad faces of the wrapper are folded in- 80 wardly over the end of the mandrel to form the tail Y" (Figs. 30 and 31). The tail Y" is heatsealed by causing the fusion of the. thermoplastic coating on the inner faces-of the flaps through engagement of a heated member with the tall.

It is then folded down and sealed by fusing the foil on its inner side to the underlying portion of the wrapper through the agency of a heated member contacting its outer side. The pouch is then stripped from the mandrel during the insertion of its contents, and its open end is folded and sealed in the same or the conventional manner.

- Referring to Figs. 33 to 3'7,wherein another modified form of package is disclosed, the foil wrapper F, which may be provided with a thermoplastic coating on its inner face, is folded around the mandrel and the longitudinal seam X sealed by fusion of the thermoplastic coating on the overlapping seam edge to the underlapping edge,

as seen in Fig. 33. The narrow flaps Y are then spread and the wide flaps Y' folded inwardly and pressed against the mandrel at their base, thereby forming a tail Y" (Figs. 34 and 35) which is heat-sealed by fusion of the thermoplastic coating on the inner faces of the flaps and then folded down as seen in Fig. 36. The projecting flaps T and T' are folded inwardly and a suitable heated member fuses them to the underlying portions of the wrapper, completing one end of Figs. 88. to v45 disclose still another type of package. 38 illustrates the upper end of foil wrapper blank 3. which issuitably cut away at one end and provided with a thermoplasticv coating on portions or the entirety of its inner face, and 'it will be understood that the lower portion of the blank is cut in the same manner.

' The wrapper is then folded around the mandrel and the longitudinal seam X isheat-sealed as 2,902,774 3 folded inward as indicated by the arrows (Fig.

is tucked inwardly over the mandrel. so that its tip Y' extends upward vertically and bears against the short broad fiap Y" of the wrapper as seen in Figs..4l and 42. A heated member then engages the outer face of the flap Y" and fuses together the thermoplastic coating on the inner faces of fiaps Y and Y" as well as the projecting ears T and T' formed during the tucking of Y flap Y at the narrow sides of the package. Upon completion of this sealing operation the ears T and I" are tucked inward as disclosed in Fig. 43.

- The upstanding flap Y (Figs. 43 and 44) is next type of package. In this form a small foil blank Y B out with the configuration shown in Fig. 46, constitutes the base of the package. The blank 8', when its margins are folded upwardly pro-- duces a tray-like insert B (Fig. 47) -which is placed against the outer end of the mandrel (Fig. 48) and interfolded with the fiaps F of the foil wrapper Fafter its longitudinal seam x has been heat-sealed in the manner described above. The

portions of the flaps F extending beyond the sidewalls of the tray B are'folded over and crimped to the same as shown and/or they are heat-sealed thereto by providing the contiguous surfaces with thermoplastic coating which may be suitably fused together. This type of fold produces a package end as seen in Fig. 51, having the appearance ,of a tin can bottom, but if this bottom is undesirable the outstanding walls may be folded down to produce a fiat bottom as shown in Fig. 52. The open end of the package may be folded and sealed to produce a top fold of the conventional or any of the types previously described herein.

Referring to Figs. 53 to 56, another modified type of package is illustrated. With this type also the foil wrapper F may be folded around the mandrel and heat-sealed at the longitudinal seam x (Fig. 53). The projecting fiaps Y are spread transversely of the broad faces of the mandrel and at the same time the flaps 'Y' are folded inwardly against the mandrel, producing a tail Y" as seen in Fig. 54. A suitable heated member seals the tail Y" by fusion of the thermoplastic coating on the inner faces thereof, whereupon it is then pressed down as seen in Fig. 55. The flaps T andT' are then folded inwardly into overlapped relation and sealed,,by fusion to the underlying portions of the wrapper, producing a completed closure of one end of the package as seen in Fig. 56. The projecting'tab T" of flap T may be readily grasped for opening the package. Upon removal of the package from the mandrel, the open end of the same is completed in the conventional or the same manner as described.

What is claimed is:

1. A hermetically sealed package whose breadth is greater than its thickness having a tubular wrapper whose ends have been spread transversely in a direction at right angles to its breadth and folded inwardly atright-angles to the direction of spreading to form an upstanding seam, the triangular projecting flaps so formed being overlapped and theouter flap being adhesively breadth to provide two contiguous edges at each package end which are brought into abutting relationship, creased, doubled back upon each other and interlocked to form an adhesive free lock seam and outstanding flaps projecting from the broad sides of the packages, said outstanding flaps being folded inwardly over the ends of the package into overlapping relationship and the end of the outer flap projecting beyond one broad side of the package, and the outer flap being adhesively secured to the inner flap.

- JOSEPH A. NEUMAIR. 

